Quixote Trimming

04/11/2024

I'm goin to be honest. I'm the one who shod both of this two horses. Completely different results. And do you know why? The one to the left didn't stand still for a single second. I'm amazed i even got the shoes on. But I did. On Internet it's very easy to sit behind the screen and criticise harshly without knowing the history behind a photo. Owners can easily put out a photo on a hoof and people will say to the owner to change farrier and demand money back. Without having basic facts that the farrier who tried shoeing the horse risked his/her life to even give it a try. Be humble. Think twice. Find out the real story behind a photo. Because one photo does not tell the whole story.

31/10/2024

Happy Halloween 🎃

29/08/2024

The Last Trim

I gave a horse their last trim today.

I showed up to trim as I always do, to the news that this would be his last trim - his owner was saying goodbye in about 3 weeks.

I first met this horse about 6 years ago, and he was a “senior” horse then. He had been retired years prior due to a heart issue, and his owner has doted on him and kept him comfortable and happy and as healthy as possible in his retirement.

When I first met him, his owner stopped me before I picked up my nippers and shared her concern about how he “was always sore after every trim, sometimes for weeks.” I assured her I would be careful, and we agreed to use Hoof Armor as a simple callous layer to see if that would help.

Over the last 6 years, he has been comfortable and pasture sound over all surfaces, even gravel. His owner insisted the Hoof Armor was a game changer- so we applied it every trim for 6 years.

Together, with his owner’s management and a consistent trim cycle, we got his feet in a much better spot.

The last few months have been tough for him. At 32 years old, his body is starting to fail. He had a few recurrent infections, weight fluctuation issues. It’s gotten to where his owner wants to let him go on a good day, instead of when he is actively suffering. As someone who has seen horses go both ways- I will never judge someone for making this decision, and I also prefer a day too early than a day too late.

So today, I trimmed him, took one last photo of one of his feet, and asked his owner if she wanted to do one last Hoof Armor application.

“Oh yes,” she said, “everything as usual.”
She wants to keep him as comfortable as he has been, up to the very last moment possible.

So we finished up his appointment, I gave him some good scratches, and thanked him for letting me take care of his feet the last few years. And then I said goodbye.

As hoofcare providers, we have the privilege of working with horses every month or so, and get to know them and their owners. They become a part of our lives and we are able to see how they grow and change throughout the years.

It makes that last goodbye that much harder, and while today was sad, I am so glad we could keep this boy happy for the last 6 years.

As hoofcare pros, it means a lot to us to be a part of your journeys. Thank you to all the owners for trusting us with your horse’s care, even into their golden years ❤️

26/08/2024

This is fake news 🗞️

⚠️Strong words coming… suck it up Equine World.

Vets, farriers, barefoot trimmers, and even research scientists have been misled for too long - and are therefore misleading others.

Rotation of P3 (coffin bone) is ALWAYS human error - every single time.

There's no such thing as P3 "rotating" or "sinking" within the hoof capsule. NO SUCH THING.

Typical vet statement 👉“You must box rest your horse or P3 will come through the sole.”

RUBBISH. If you (vet) had been taught correct hoof care you’d see how ridiculous that statement was.

More utter poppy c**k 👉 “A heart bar shoe can support the frog and P3 to prevent it from sinking” - this is a myth.

It ‘supports’ nothing. Absolutely NOTHING.

Stop nailing (or glueing) them onto already compromised hoof capsules (that you or your colleague screwed up in the first instance).

Equine world irony 👉 Hang on, how about a clog or two, rockering it would be even better - how about resecting the hoof wall, yeah, great that’ll fix it - set the shoe back - increase break over - stop lever forces (everyone ignore the heels).

Sigh. 😔

Every single time you see P3 in the wrong positon in the hoof capsule - it’s INCORRECT TRIMMING that caused it.

You see the red lines on this x-ray?

That’s where the hoof capsule should be.

All that material left at the heel and removed at the toe? Your equine ‘pros’ did that.

Millions of dollars spent on laminitis research and they haven’t even spotted the most simplest of causes.

Vets, farriers, barefoot trimmers - they’re all doing it.

It’s not laminitis - it never was - p3 rotation is human error.

You, the horse owners, are being duped to believe that X-rays like this are a dreadful act of cruel nature.

That the laminae got inflamed, fell apart and left P3 dangling about in the hoof capsule, rotating and sinking at will.

That’s not true.

P3 got like this because humans caused it. The HUMAN HAND with their rasps and nippers, and mythical ideas.

Chopping off toes endlessly, thinning soles, disorienting hoof capsules - this is all improper unnatural hoof care.

HM have a saying 👉 “Do unnatural things, and expect unnatural things to happen”.

Poor P3 - poor, poor P3. The most humungous great big RED HERRING. Forget P3. Look at the HOOF CAPSULE.

P3 is busy doing nothing inside that hoof capsule, minding its own business just waiting for someone who knows how to read a hoof capsule to keep it in balance.

Vet schools, you should hang your heads in shame for failing to teach your students even the most basic principles of hoof care. You know you don’t - we know you don’t - and this is a worldwide problem.

Typical vet statement (with no prior knowledge of hoof care): “remove more toe”

LOOK AT THE X-RAY - that’s where your “remove more toe” got this poor pony.

You should have said “get those heels down, leave that poor toe alone, stop thinning the sole!”

Farrier and barefoot schools, stop listening to bogus science and stop teaching your students to chop off toes.

Every time you do that, you lose the balance point, take off too much sole, cause growth rates to go into chaos, leave too much heel, and rotate P3.

Then you X-ray and shout - L-A-M-I-N-I-T-I-S

STOP IT NOW.

This isn’t just misguided - it’s maiming, laming, and killing horses.

It’s embarrassing, it’s wrong, and it has to end. We are SO DAMN tired of seeing this happen, and having to correct it.

And sometimes we’re just too bloody late.

Equine world you should be saying ‘My Bad’ 😑



HM.

p.s. if your horse is being diagnosed with rotation, get into our rehab group now and learn how to fix it before it’s too late: The Phoenix Way: Path 2 Hoof Health

p.p.s. these videos on this YouTube channel are TOTALLY FREE - educate yourself: Lindsay Setchell Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/

05/08/2024

Why does your farrier require you to stay on a schedule if you stay with him? Is he just wanting more money? Is he just taking advantage of you? Absolutely not. It’s all about keeping the horse’s foot as consistent as possible. Too many people think “oh, they don’t look bad so they don’t need done.” When in reality, if they do look good inbetween cycles, and they still look good when they are due next…that’s a compliment to the job the farrier has done.

For every 1 centimeter of extra toe, it’s an added 50 kilograms of force on the tendons. If you do the conversion, that’s 110lbs of extra tension!!!!! Think about the pain a horse has with toes that are 4-5” long. Or, on a horse that’s only done once or twice a year. So, when a farrier requires or asks that their clients stay on a schedule, it’s for the benefit of the horse. It’s our job as farriers to do what we can to keep our client horses both sound and comfortable.

01/08/2024

For anyone wondering if/when foals need to be trimmed... well here’s your answer!

This was the first trim on a 5 month old miniature c**t. Imagine teetering around on those stilts!

The hoof care your horse receives as a foal can either set them on the path of strong healthy hooves, or a life of imbalances and distortions - I know which I’d prefer!

13/07/2024

Thursday 7/11/24 - Glory was an angel to work on. She has a bad knee, and screwed up feet. I can’t imagine standing on those feet, let alone walking or carrying someone.
She licked and chewed each change I made.. this will be a slow process for her. I can’t wait to keep making her as comfortable as we can, and seeing the changes in her feet and body. She’s had shoes on for 22 years.

11/07/2024

09/07/2024

Celebrating all farriers worldwide…

12/06/2024

I say this all the time, I want to support your business as much as I possibly can.. if you’re a farrier, barefoot trimmer, or any small business owner. Because guess what, in the end we are all trying to do the same thing. Live the best life we possibly can, and do the best work we possibly can. I want us all to succeed in our dreams and our careers. I’m here for US ALL! ❤️‍🔥

31/05/2024

Did you know…

An 1,100-pound horse needs to consume a 2-pound block each month just to meet minimum sodium requirements in moderate temps and in no work.

TWO POUNDS of a salt block every MONTH! For reference, the small rectangle salt blocks are 4lbs each.

Many horses are sodium deficient, which is concerning since sodium is important for nerve and muscle function as well as hydration.

By top dressing your horse’s feed with plain white loose salt at a rate of 1 tablespoon per 500lbs per day, you can help meet your horse’s daily sodium requirement.